Flying lesson

[Fab Foodie]

This has to be the cheapest way of Dying?

A picture taken by potsy of paragliders in action over Pendle Hill on Sunday's forum ride.

FTFY

 

[Fab Foodie]

I had one once over Lake Eerie and the Cedar Point Roller-Coaster park, fabulous experience. Everybody should do it once in their life!

 

[Unkraut]

Anyone else have a secret urge to pretend they are in a Spitfire

<pretend aircraft noise>"Neeeeow, neeeow , katackka, katackka"</pretend aircraft noise>"

"You can train monkeys to fly better than that .... "!!

I've only had a couple of freebies in a glider, but wouldn't mind going up again if I got the chance.

 

[sdr gb]

I was once told the propeller is only there to keep the pilot cool because if it stops mid-flight, watch how quickly they start to sweat.

 

[brockers]

FTFY

Paragliding's safe enough in southern England*, and cheap too. You can get a secondhand wing and harness for about a grand. Training and stuff doubles that, but it's still a whole bunch cheaper than a fixed wing PPL. Jolly good fun too!

*it's more dangerous in mountainous areas.

 

[Arch]

I've been up in a glider a couple of times, 5 minute joy-ride winch-launches. On the first I took control for a moment or two, on the second I declined - I preferred to enjoy the view without the terror of cocking up!

The funny thing was that they gave us parachutes to wear. When we looked dubious about this, they said "Oh, it's ok, you'll never be high enough for them to open in time. It's just the seats are designed for them, and without one to sit on, you won't be able to see out. Oh, don't touch anything on the front of them or you'll be carried off down the runway."

 

[Arch]

Oh and my Dad was in the Fleet Air Arm, and I've seen photos of his more interesting carrier landings. If I've inherited his skill, it's probably better if I don't take it up....

 

[XmisterIS]

The only flying lessons I've ever had were provided for free, courtesy of momentum but cruelly cut short by gravity, on those occasions when my bike stopped suddenly and I didn't.

 

[slowmotion]

I was given a trial lesson in an open cockpit Tiger Moth as a birthday present. It's blooming scary to look down on High Wycombe from 2000 ft. The sides of the cockpit seem to be little higher than your hips.

 

[Cubist]

certain Mr Mason recommends it heartily:



View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bn4_zur5hjw

 

[Night Train]

One of my flying experiences was in a helicopter, one of those 'joy ride' affairs at steam rallies.

Myself and three others from our Land Rover club decided to go in the helicopter. We paid and headed over to the nearside door and got in, I was last.

Every one grabbed their lap belts but the bugger who got in first grabbed the wrong pair of straps and so by the time I got the door shut and started looking for my belt I only had one side of it, the side closest to the door.

Despite my protests the pilot took off and started circling left banking right over so everyone could look out the window at the ground.

I had three blokes leaning against me pinning me to the door. I had my left hand wrapped tightly around the single lap belt strap and my right hand in a vice grip around the angle iron strut under the seat.

Then the door clicked open one notch on the latch. The latch was this sort.

It only had two notches to click closed onto and it had sprung open one of them.
I could see the ground through the door gap and feel the air rushing in.

At a time like that you realise how heavy three beer drinking Land Rover drivers are and how your life depends on 3mm of latch and your own grip on a bit of angle iron.

Never, ever doing that again. Pilot was stupid and didn't check we were safe before taking off and didn't care when I was complaining about it.

 

[Creamcrackered]

I'm a gliding instructor and I get to do quite a few of these trial lessons. It is a great privilege taking someone for their first ever flight. I can get most people flying the aircraft - straight and level, and doing turns - after about 10-15 minutes instruction. Taking off and landing are a bit more tricky. Strangely, the older you get the more difficult it is - kids learn really quickly.

 

[derrick]

Had a lesson in a r22 helicopter, amazing the pilot took me through all controls, he then did a stall turn, auto rotated it to show what happens when the engine cuts, he then handed me the controls for a 15 minute fly, amazing you just got to try it,

 

[BrumJim]

My cousin teaches people how to fly.

Took me up once before he qualified in order to book some flying time. We took off from Inverness, flew down to Fort William, turned around, and came back. Lovely experience, if a little bumpy at times.

 

[cisamcgu]

I think I shall book it sooner rather than later